I've been thinking recently that it would be amazing if we could get to the final in the FA Cup and qualify for European football the season after. That would be an amazing part in QPR history if it could happen. But I was also thinking about our approach to cups. I do not believe that we have bad luck in cups, I only believe that we have successively had a bad attitude to cups. If our manager takes the cup really seriously and gets his team to take it seriously, we would play well. I really think that our terrible form in cups comes from the fact that the players haven't been instilled with a seriousness about those games, as if it doesn't really matter that we lose and are knocked out. So, the players need to get the feeling of cup game importancy and seriousness from the manager and the manager needs to get that feeling from the club. It could be that managers haven't taken cups seriously because they feel the club they're employed by doesn't. Just imagine seeing QPR in Europe!
They don't take it seriously, which is probably why we get the serious injuries. I can't see myself ever going to a cup match again because they take the piss. I used to love them but I'd turn into that mad fan who was filmed in sar.
Thanks for this AW. Your OP inspired me to clamber up to the loft (no pun intended) and dig out the programmes of previous R's exploits in Europe. For the those remotely interested, I found the following: 1976-77 UEFA Cup 1st Round first leg. SK Brann Bergen 2nd Round second leg. Slovan Bratislava 3rd round first leg FC Koln ( the prog spells it Cologne). Programme price ? a snip at 20p. And don't forget AW, you have to have a dream to make a dream come true. Keep believing.
Wandle, don't forget the quarter final AEK Athens "Wembley Souvenir" programme, when it was thought that the game would take place at Wembley due to the number of Greek fans that were expected..... They were great programmes with all the flags of Europe on the cover..... Besides I really would like another day out at Wembley, got the taste for it now after 32 years (missed the '86 debacle)
Spot on Tramore but I couldn't find the prog. I agree that it was great to be at Wembley and win after the previous heartaches especially 86. As I said in my previous post , we have to keep dreaming.
My Uncle won the match ball (signed by all the players) in a supporters club raffle from the FC Koln match and sent it over to me in Ireland.
Flyer, whatever the provocation, I just can't imagine you ever sinking that low:- [video=youtube;tTFOncppkJg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTFOncppkJg&feature=youtu.be&a[/video] Or this burger chucking chump:- [video=youtube;PAITvU-A6oc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAITvU-A6oc&feature=youtu.be&a[/video]
Nice. Thanks for those memories as they were well before my time. Nice to hear we had stints in Europe. It'd be a pleasure to see it happen again one day. I can't believe supporters of some clubs sniff at the Europa League.
Old enough to a) remember listening on the radio to us getting beaten by AEK and b) seeing the hoops play Partizan Belgrade at Highbury. We were not allowed to use our ground as we had the plastic pitch and UEFA had outlawed it. We beat them 6-2 in the home leg, every goal a screamer too but then in typical R's fashion we lost the away leg 4-0 and went out on the away goals rule. I think I am correct in saying that Rangers have a 100% home record in Europe but maybe someone with a better memory knows different. Brilliant memories and boy we made some noise back then. We had to use the school end one season and away teams were given a really hostile reception. It is a great shame that we haven't been in a position to take the Cups seriously and I don't suppose it will happen this year either with survival being the prime goal.
I was too young to go to the AEK match because it was an evening ko, but my Dad bought me back the program with all the flags on it - though it was the most amazing thing I'd ever seen (was only 7 or 8) - must still have it somewhere!
I honestly can't remember a duff home match in either of those 'campaigns'. We scored for fun throughout and played some great football and, if my memory is right, in 76-77 Stan set a scoring record for goals in a European season, can't remember how many, but it was in double figures. The away game at Cologne was a heart-stopper though, we scored first to lead 4-0 on aggregate and then conceded four and had to hang on for most of the second half. I was listening on the radio which is far worse than watching on TV as you always think the worst...
They were great nights sooper....you're right stan did set goal scoring record and held it for years until they changed the format to a league instead of straight knock out..... I actually went to Cologne for the away leg, the club ran a good number of coaches, it was a long journey, left HQ early evening and traveled overnight arriving in Cologne early morning on match day and then back straight after game. Because there were a number of British Forces based around the Rhine area we had really good support that night and when Don Mason scored in the first couple of minutes we all thought we would cruise through being 4-0 up on aggregate.....but Cologne played really well, they had the lad Muller up front who was Germany's leading goal scorer at the time and he caused all sorts of problems and by HT they had scored 2 or 3 plus we had dear old Dave Clement sent off so had to play the whole of the 2nd half with 10 men. They absolutely played us off the park in the 2nd half and quickly leveled the tie at 4-4 but we were still ahead on away goals. Fortunately we had Phil Parkes in goal and he was outstanding making 5 or 6 brilliant saves to keep us in the game......it was a brilliant experience and we really should have won the UEFA cup that season. All i can remember of our 2nd stint in europe is the Partisan Belgrade game did we play anyone else before them?
Rejkiavik....(iceland capital) 3-4 nil at home(highbury) 3nil away....Bannister hatrick in one if not both??
Cheers Walsall.....that was totally wiped from the memory.....knew we must have played someone as I was sure the PB games were not the 1st round matches....
Thanks Walsall. I had completely forgot that one. Mind you, most of last season is a bit of a blur as well.
No worries lads...remember it well (1st season as regular) ...under Mullerz...part of his 28 that season....
We would have also qualified for Europe in 1993 when we finished 5th. But English teams were banned from all European competitions due to the Heysel tragedy.
